Ape's metalshop Oy

Hitsauskurssi.fi®
Ape’s metalshop Oy

The company behind the welding course is Ape’s Metalshop Oy, a Finnish metalworking company founded in 2014.

Originally, the company was established purely out of a passion for craftsmanship and enthusiasm for the trade. At that time, its core operations revolved around CNC machining and being a versatile metalworking workshop.

In its current form, the company runs the welding course presented on this site. In addition to the course, operations include project-based work, with problem-solving and a highly versatile skill set being the strongest assets. In short, "Swiss army knife of metalwork and mechanics."

Below, you can read the whole story about both the course and the company behind it.


2014-2016

The company’s story didn’t start with a grand business idea. The thought of entrepreneurship first sparked when Anssi Juvonen, the founder of Ape’s Metalshop, hit a learning ceiling in his day job as a machinist at a large company’s small prototype workshop. The work itself was diverse, but in the big picture, the days became too repetitive. And that just didn’t sit well with a curious 25-year-old mind.

The company was founded out of a desire to learn new things, with scattered ideas about CNC machining as its foundation and a passion for custom-built motorcycles as its driving force. Its home base was found in Helsinki’s Tattarisuo, a kind of cradle for self-made inventors and semi-bohemian tech enthusiasts. The space could best be described as a technical hippie commune—an environment full of eccentric personalities with wildly different skill sets, making it the perfect fit.

The work began with a single three-axis CNC machining center and a manual lathe. Initially, the focus was purely on machining—subcontracting for industry and making specialty parts for motorcycle enthusiasts. On the side, video content was produced for YouTube. Slowly, the customer base grew, one job at a time, and the long workweeks brought plenty of the much-needed learning opportunities.


2017-2018

Over the next few years, the workload increased to the point where one pair of hands was no longer enough. There had been occasional helpers before, but now the search for a full-time employee began. The machine lineup had been strengthened with a second machining center, and together they formed a production cell that pushed out industrial subcontracting work. Specialty parts were made for motorcycles, cars, and boats.

The videos produced on the side led to a collaboration with Camcut Oy, culminating in the success of "CNC-machinist’s coffee break" which reached nearly 2 million viewers.

At this stage, the nature of the work had evolved beyond just machining. The constant learning process had brought extensive knowledge of different materials, treatments, tools, work methods, a strong network of collaborators, and diverse projects. Welding had now also become part of the operation—though only as a supporting skillset for completing projects, not as a sellable service. The shop utilized both MIG/MAG and TIG welding techniques.

It soon became clear that welding was an invaluable skill, even just as a supporting tool. MIG/MAG was a simple yet incredibly versatile method. The shop started tossing around an idea: “Could we teach welding as a course?” The thought was left to simmer.

One thing had become obvious in the company’s operations—its strength was not in basic machining, but in problem-solving. A typical customer would walk into the shop carrying a pile of problems, saying, “We’re in trouble. Can you do something?” And we would deliver that "something". Another type of customer would come in looking for a very specific machining service but would leave with a completely different, better solution.

Another key strength was a strong visual approach. The parts and projects weren’t just functional—they looked impressive as well. The shop produced everything from custom wheels for cars and motorcycles to components for race cars, large illuminated aluminum signs for restaurants, essential tools for paper mill production lines, and, according to some sources, parts for a project that ultimately ended up in Earth’s orbit.

Plans for expanding the company’s industrial subcontracting business were in the works, and expertise was growing rapidly.

Everything looked great. For a little while longer.


2019-2020

The beginning of 2019 looked promising. On the special projects side, we were crafting metal interior elements for a trendy new bar in Helsinki, building large hydraulic lifts, and designing mounting systems for cameras that cost as much as a house—installing them on cars, ATVs, and even planning aircraft mounts abroad. We also made custom wheels for show cars and motorcycles. At this point, welding had become an integral part of our projects.

But in industrial subcontracting, the quality of incoming work had been slowly and stealthily declining.

The bank account made it clear—something was wrong. A combination of young, inexperienced entrepreneurship and external challenges had begun to take its toll. Money was draining from the account at an alarming rate. Quick, big, and heavy decisions had to be made.

Options were scarce. But one promising opportunity kept hope alive:
There was a proposal on the table—Ape’s Metalshop would move into a client company’s facility with a minimal machining setup and begin a close collaboration. The deal was appealing to both parties and was just a handshake away. Then, Covid-19 hit, slamming the brakes on everything.

There was only one option left: let go of the employee, the workshop, and all the machines. Only the tools that could fit in the back of a van remained—among them, the welding gear. And once again, there was plenty of learning ahead—this time, through some very expensive lessons.


2021-2022

For the next year, the company operated without its own workshop, working straight out of a van, traveling from client to client, project to project. In restructuring the business, all the small miscellaneous jobs were cut away, leaving only the best customer relationships and slightly larger projects. The focus was placed on the strongest expertise: problem-solving and "we're in trouble, do something" type of jobs. Many projects involved extensive 3D design, and welding became a core part of the work. Machining was now done only on clients' own machines or through the old collaboration network.

The idea of a welding course had never really left the back of the mind, and now it was time to test if it could work in practice. Years of welding projects had built up enough confidence that sharing knowledge felt natural.

So, pen and paper were pulled out, and concepts were sketched. Before long, the direction was clear: the basics of MIG/MAG welding in a single workday. The exercises needed to be concise and effective. The entire course had to be packaged as clearly as possible. It sounded a bit ambitious. "Damn, is this even possible?" The thought lingered. But there was only one way to find out—try it.

A proof-of-concept day was set up. Four friends and former coworkers were gathered in a borrowed corner of a client's workshop, handwritten A4 note as a guide, and a single workday to make it happen. After six hours of testing and practicing, the workshop was full of nodding heads—everyone agreed there was real potential here. Even the most experienced professional welder in the group had taken something useful from the day.

Armed with the day's notes, it was time to retreat to the office and start refining the welding course into a proper product.


2023-2024

After the first proof-of-concept day, exercises were improved, the course structure was adjusted, and the day was refined into a more complete experience. Another development session was held. Then another. And again. The process repeated over and over until the course day was fully polished, free from growing pains.

It became clear right from the first trial that a single day was packed with an enormous amount of learning—more than the average person could fully absorb. Because of this, the course content was put into written form, eventually resulting in a 75-page illustrated guide for participants to take home.

During the company's nomadic years, a strong relationship developed with one particular client, leading to Ape’s Metalshop finding a new home within the client’s facilities in Vantaa. The machining equipment was left in the past, but now, with a new product, Hitsauskurssi.fi® (welding course), there was finally a dedicated space.

Years of continuous learning had been distilled into this course—understanding how to acquire new skills and, more importantly, how to share that knowledge in a way that truly made sense.


Contact info

Hitsauskurssi.fi
Mittatie 14, Vantaa
Anssi Juvonen
0407607070
anssi.juvonen@hitsauskurssi.fi

Anssi Juvonen
Hitsauskurssi.fi päämaja

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Billing details

Invoices primarily as e-invoice, please.

Company:
E-address / OVT:
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Ape’s metalshop Oy
003726149719
Apix Messaging Oy


Invoices by email are needed as PDF-files. Send them to:
anssi.juvonen@hitsauskurssi.fi

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